New England Fisheries

A behind the scenes peek at the Gulf of Maine cod stock assessments

What really happened to Gulf of Maine cod? Heather Goldstone of Climatideinvestigated last week by talking to Liz Brooks and Mike Palmer, two of the scientists at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center who were involved in producing the 2011 Gulf of Maine cod stock assessment. As Goldstone reports, Brooks and Palmer believe that Gulf of Maine cod is indeed rebuilding, but at a slower rate than the much more positive 2008 assessment suggested, so much slower that Gulf of Maine cod will not be rebuilt by the federally-mandated 2014 target date. Brooks and Palmer also explain more about the reason for the discrepancy between the 2008 and 2011 stock assessment results and how they think assessments could be improved.

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Fishermen have been stating this for years! It's all about our politicians and big businesses profiting! Don't bite the hands that feed you unless it lines your pockets! The large menhaden fish companies that take to much are the blame in addition to climate change!